How to tell if your basement has water problems

Wet Basement Solutions

Your senses will tell you if you if you have a problem with water or moisture in your basement. There are some obvious clues that tell you that you need to deal with the issue sooner than later to avoid serious costs.

Sight

Beyond seeing evident puddles, look around at the basement floor and walls. If your basement is unfinished, you will be able to look at the concrete for cracks or holes. Check out all the surfaces and make sure you haven’t missed any small breaks or gaps. Can you see any staining or watermarks? If there has been water or excessive moisture in your basement, it is likely to leave a residue of some sort on the masonry.

If you have a finished basement with flooring and wall coverings you will have to look for any damage to the surfaces. Has the carpeting become spongy or is the tiling buckled? Is the paint crackling or has the wallpaper started to stain or come away from the drywall? Are books or papers you have stored there starting to curl?

Touch

Can you feel moist spots on the walls or floor? Is the staining like a salty mark that feels dusty or sandy? Do things feel damp? These can be clues that your basement has a water problem.

Smell

As you descend the stairs does your nose wrinkle at the odour? Water that has soaked through materials or has been left to lie on the floor can be a breeding ground for bacteria and spores. Mildew and mold create a dank, musty smell that is noticeable.

While mildew can be quite harmless, mold is another story especially if someone in your home suffers from some sort of respiratory illness such as asthma.

Hearing

Of course, if you can hear water trickling in your basement you could have a drainage problem or evidence of some sort of overflow! If you’ve had a lot of spring run-off or flooding, you might find your basement has become wet.

What should you do?

The first thing any homeowner should do if they find their basement is wet or has been wet, is call in the experts from a basement waterproofing company such as City Wide Group. Why can’t you do it yourself? You need people with the expertise to identify the source of the problem and the experience to fix it so your problem goes away. You want to have someone with familiarity with the location and type of environment and drainage in your neighbourhood. Unless you have that kind of expertise, you should call in professionals who have an excellent track record.

Technicians will come to your home and provide you with a full inspection and a free estimate on a basement waterproofing project to fit your needs and budget. Whether you choose interior or exterior basement waterproofing, you will need to have a weeping tile system installed or repaired. Most homes in the Toronto area have weeping tiles because of the topography of the city. There are many lakes, creeks, rivers, and underground waterways in the Greater Toronto Area. When there is a heavy thunderstorm or major spring run-off, these sources of water overflow their banks and end up spilling into the adjacent soils. If your home’s foundation has been properly waterproofed, you are protected from that water getting into your basement and causing havoc.